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Feryal Tawakul, Executive Director of Community Affairs and Government Partnership Division at Dubai Customs

Under the sponsorship of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saed Al-Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation, CEO and Chairman of the Emirates Group, Dubai Customs participated in the launch ceremony of the 4th Cycle of the Arabia CSR Awards held in the prestigious Capital Club- Dubai World Centre, with the attendance of representatives from government corporations, private companies and media members.

Mrs Feryal Tawakul, Executive Director of Community Affairs and Government Partnership Division at Dubai Customs, demonstrated the most remarkable CSR achievements of Dubai Customs, highlighting the factors behind Dubai Customs’ success that qualified the Dept. to secure the first place and earned the Award of the Third Cycle in 2010, under the great Arab corporation category in the region, heading 62 corporations from 12 Arab countries competing for the competition’s prize under the three categories which also includes medium and small scale corporations.

Mrs Feryal in the beginning of her speech stressed on Dubai Customs’ commitment to carrying out activities and initiatives towards bringing about benefits to the community. The department has implemented 174 social initiatives so far in the last three years; out of these, 19 initiatives in 2008, and 59 ones in 2009, and other 96 initiatives in 2010. She stressed on Dubai Customs social responsibility as part of UN Human Rights Declaration and International Labour Organization fundamental Convention, compliance with maintaining environment and natural resources in all activities, encourage employees, customers & stakeholders to follow best practices which are designed for mitigating pollution risks, recycling of materials, using recycled waste as much as we can. To facilitate achievement of this objective, we must make use of quality management system in compliance to ISO 14001:2004 and SA 8000:2008

in the past few years, Dubai Customs CSR focused on the rights of employees, customers and transparent communication with them via ‘the Client Charter’, she explained. Also the Department gave care to all community sectors, namely, visiting patients & people of special needs, cleaning shores, combating trades of endangered wildlife and the initiatives related to women’s activities such as foundation of ‘the Pioneer Woman’ committee, the launch the prize for the best working woman, establishing DC Child Nurse Centre, enhancement of voluntary & charitable awareness amongst the employees, and increasing the community awareness on the role of DC in protecting IPR and risks of using fake goods. Our employees’ cooperation had tangible eco-social outcomes in all our initiatives, she said. Also all the departments at Dubai Customs had played vital roles in re-establishing concept of corporate social responsibility – from a mere charitable activity to an integral administrative system within Dubai Customs strategy with aim of enhancing its customs operational function, believing in the importance of CSR challengeable role towards achieving these objectives, she emphasised.

Mr Ralph Thurm, CSR Member of the Jury and Director of Sustainability Strategies and Innovation of the Arabia Awards, praised Dubai Customs professional role in this field and its distinct compliance to sustainability, besides, its adoption and implementation of best practices and global standards in areas of corporate social responsibility

It is worth mentioning that since its inception, the Arabia CSR Awards enjoy the support of the UN Global Compact, giving Award winners international recognition for their CSR best practices.

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Background information

Dubai Customs is a Government body that facilitates free trade and help secure the integrity of Dubai's borders. It aims to be a world leader in Customs administration through innovative and proactive services. It recognizes the importance of its role in the trade supply chain and endeavour to intervene in the flow of goods and passengers. Collecting customs revenue and administering trade measures are other major duties.

Dubai Customs is a Government body that facilitates free trade and help secure the integrity of Dubai's borders. It aims to be a world leader in Customs administration through innovative and proactive services. It recognizes the importance of its role in the trade supply chain and endeavour to intervene in the flow of goods and passengers. Collecting customs revenue and administering trade measures are other major duties.